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Sunday, July 19, 2015

Girls forced out of shopping centre to be raped in Sunderland park, court hears

Syed Ali, 46, told his two victims he was carrying a a knife and warned they would be “hurt” if they did not leave the Bridges Shopping centre in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and follow him to Mowbray Park, it is claimed.

They say they were told by him to come with him or they would be hurt.

Prosecutor Gavin Doig

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 46-year-old take-away worker then raped one girl and sexually assaulted the other in bushes at the city recreation areaon December 8.

Ali, formerly of Sunderland, claims he had consensual sex with the teenager who has accused him of rape.

He claims there was nothing more than a “hug and kiss” with the other girl.

Ali denies rape and sexual assault and is being tried by a jury.

The court heard Ali, who initially lied to police about meeting a friend at the shopping centre then refused to give an explanation why he was there, was caught on cctv “either following or simply walking behind” two schoolgirls in uniform before he crossed paths with his alleged victims, who were on a shopping trip together.

Prosecutors say he could have been luring around the shopping complex looking for “likely targets”.

Footage from the corridor near the toilets in the centre show Ali and his victims, who are “oblivious” to him, walking past each other in opposite directions.

After spotting the two girls, Ali is shown to then turn around and walk in the same direction as them.

Prosecutor Gavin Doig told the court: “According to the complainants, he tellsthem he has a knife.

“They say he asks if they like sex. They say they told him ‘no’.

“They say they were told by him to come with him or they would be hurt.